Making the Job Corps program accessible to persons with mental health disabilities may require granting reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation allows the person with a disability to participate in the Job Corps program to an equivalent degree of his/her non-disabled peers and usually involves the provision of an appropriate service or product, or the modification of a job, work/academic environment, policy, program, or procedure.

Job Corps provides the opportunity for a person with a mental health disability to request accommodation at any time during his/her application to, or enrollment in the Job Corps program.

Requests for accommodations are processed through established center processes. For further assistance or information regarding reasonable accommodation, contact the center’s disability coordinator and/or refer to the Job Corps Reasonable Accommodation Guidelines.

Functional Limitations

Mental health disabilities may affect functioning in many different ways. Some of the limitations associated with mental health disabilities include: ²

• Unable to Ignore Environmental Stimuli—Inability to ignore sounds, sights, or odors that interfere with focusing on tasks
• Sustaining Concentration—Restless, shortened attention span, easily distracted, difficulty remembering verbal instructions
• Maintaining Stamina—Lack of energy, drowsy due to medications, slower pace
• Managing Deadlines and Multiple Tasks—Difficulty prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, organizing
• Interacting Socially—Difficulty reading social cues, fitting in, getting along, maintaining interpersonal relationships
• Responding to Negative Feedback—Trouble accepting and understanding criticism, withdraws because does not know how to change
• Dealing with Change—Upset by instructor changes, coursework changes, or changes in examination dates
• Meeting Self-Care Needs—Problems with hygiene or grooming

These functional limitations, when the result of a disability, may lead to the need for accommodations.

Click here for a list of possible accommodations for Job Corps students with selected mental health disabilities.

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² This is not a complete list of limitations and the limitations listed do not apply to every person with mental health disabilities. From Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.